My first chip was also a token. The first time I went to Reno was in 1979 for my honeymoon, living in Portland, Oregon at the time. The MGM was the most impressive casino of the trip, and I liked the lion logo and the fact it said 1979 on it, so I kept this token as a souvenir of the trip.

Next trip to Reno was a job interview in 1998, and a month later I lived here. Because of my MGM, I decided it would be fun to collect either tokens or chips. I decided I liked the chips better, so I was going to collect a $1 chip from every casino in Reno. I was disappointed to learn that they only used $1 tokens on the blackjack tables. I didn't play craps, and I didn't know enough to look at the craps tables. About that time a friend was visiting and staying at Harrah's. I mentioned my dilema to her, and the next day she handed me a $1 Harrah's brass core and said, "like this?" My eyes were about as big as that chip as I said "YES!" I had never seen a brass core before. Talk about love at first sight!!!

I later found a sample in much better condition to put in my collection, and I carry that first chip in my pocket, so I can always have a chip to show someone what I collect.